Gen Bajwa pays farewell visits to president, PM

Change of command ceremony for new COAS to take place tomorrow

ISLAMABAD:

Outgoing Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday held separate farewell meetings with President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to Express News, President Alvi expressed good wishes to General Bajwa during their meeting.

Later, the army chief attended a farewell meeting with PM Shehbaz, who organised a luncheon in honour of General Bajwa.

It is pertinent to note that the special change of command ceremony for the new chief of army staff (COAS) will take place tomorrow at 9 am.

In the ceremony, General Bajwa will hand over command of the Pakistan Army to the new chief General Syed Asim Munir.

The chiefs of all armed forces and senior civil and military officers will participate in the occasion to felicitate the new COAS.

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Additionally, federal ministers, diplomats, dignitaries and journalists have also been invited to the ceremony.

General Munir will end the six-year-long tenure of General Bajwa as Pakistan's chief of army staff.

On Sunday, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza assumed his appointment as the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC).

General Mirza replaced General Nadeem Raza, assuming what is technically the most senior position in the military but is considered ceremonial.

President Alvi had approved a summary sent by PM Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of General Munir as the next COAS and General Mirza as the new CJCSC last week, ending days of speculation.

General Munir and General Mirza were the first and second on the seniority list, respectively. Therefore, both key slots went to the most-senior generals after Gen Bajwa.